‘Disgraced’ Matt Lauer Is Still Making Headlines One Month After He Was Fired From The ‘Today Show’

Matt Lauer is still making headlines, even though he was fired as lead anchor of the Today Show a month ago. Most recently is was reported that he just can’t let go of his job at NBC’s Today Show. Page Six is reporting that the disgraced former anchor is sending notes to producers with his unsolicited feedback and the staff isn’t taking it well.

Lauer played Today Show critic by sending an email to a producer saying that he thought they used the wrong music to kick off a segment just weeks after NBC quickly fired him due to accusations of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

Even though Lauer planned to lay low and play golf and he is fighting to save his 20-year marriage to Annette Roque, he decided to take the time to send criticism to his former co-workers.

The popular morning news program has moved on from the Lauer scandal and this past week named Hoda Kotb as his permanent replacement to join Savannah Guthrie. This marks the first time in the show’s long history that it will have two female co-hosts.

According to Newsweek, the show has thrived since Lauer’s departure, beating rival Good Morning America in the ratings since he left – and that doesn’t happen often. The viewers are sticking around, and the numbers continue to grow, with Kotb filling in as Lauer’s interim replacement when he left at the end of November.

After Kotb’s official promotion, Guthrie remarked that “this has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made, and I am so thrilled.”

Kotb’s hiring may be popular, but many are scratching their heads as to why she will be making significantly less money than Lauer.

The seasoned anchor will make $7 million a year as opposed to the $25 million Lauer signed on for in his most recent contract.

Vanity Fair reports that the disparity in salary isn’t necessarily a result of sexism, despite the fact that it appears that way. Lauer hosted the show for two decades, and his astronomical salary was the result of multiple contract renegotiations throughout the years.

Kotb is earning the same as Guthrie, and both ladies can negotiate higher numbers in the future when the network renews their contracts. If the ratings continue to grow with Kotb, it should eventually result in a higher salary. Plus, she will be working even more than Lauer did, since she will continue to host the Today Show’s fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford.

As Fox News points out, it is worth noting that NBC pays Megyn Kelly around $20 million, so Kotb and Guthrie’s earnings aren’t an exact reflection of female anchor salaries.